WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14775, 14 October 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

FARMERS’ HARD LOT. REPRESENTATIONS TO PREMIER. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, Thursday. The deputation representative of the farming community, which waited upon the Prime Minister with an urgent request that the Government would bestir itself towards relieving the hard lot of the men on the land, certainly made out a very strong ease for the consideration of Mr Massey ani his colleagues. Mr W. D. Hunt, the principal spokesman, did not mmee matters at all lb placing the facts before the Minister. < With low prices for Ihcir produce, he said, the farmers were faced with largely increased costs. Higher interests, excessive taxation, increased transit charge.), (icarer labour and commodities, with no prospect of an early improvement, the position of many of them on the land had become simply intolerable. Mr Hunt recognised that the Government could not raise the prices for the farmers’ products. These were Pxed by the world's markets, and could not be influenced by any local effort. But he contended that the Government could improve the position materially by cutting down Hs administrative expenditure, and so preparing the way for a substantial reduction in taxation.

Emphasising the Facts. Mr W. J. Poison, the Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, and Mr G. L. Marshall emphasised the points submitted by Mr Hunt. Mr Poison did not think the Government fully understood the gravity of the position, tic had just returned from a tour of the South Island where, he was assured, many of the farmers were unable to pay the interest on their mortgages, and some of them unable to pay their taxation. The producers, by the sheer force of circumstances, had been compelled to accept a lower standard of living. They had no alternative. But the other sections of Hie community were maintaining Hie high standard established during the prosperous years, and thus keeping up the prices of commo.dilics and the cost of services that were aggravating 1 lie difliclutics of the men on the land. Mr Poison strongly advocated the abolition of compulsory preference Lo unionists, which, he said, placed a huge burden upon the mass of ilie people, and created funds for the maintenance of the agitator.-), whose doctrine was less work for the greatest possible pay. Mr Marshall followed in a similar strain. Government Retrenching.

In reply, the Prime Minister strongly deprecated the tendency towards pessimism which seemed to have ta*en possession of the farming community. He knew all about hard times. He was a producer himself, and he understood the difficulties of the producers. Ho had been through the impression of the eighties, and people who had had that experience should not be losing Thc.,Oovernment was not unmindful of the needs of the situation. The war had imposed an additional liability of some £100.000,000 upon New Zealand, including Ihe liability for pensions. This was a burden which had to be carried, and which, he was sure, the country would face as courageously as it had faced the war itself. The Government was prepared to show the way. Ministers were reducing their own salaries, and already had effected economies in the public expenditure amounting to a million and a-half a year, lie held in his hand the report of the Economy Board, which proposed additional savings of two millions a year, and he believed this further instalment of economy could be effected without inflicting any hardship. “You have stated your case very clearly,” Mr Massey said in conclusion, "but don't go about talking as if this was the end of all things. You will find work done during the next three months which 1 believe will bo a pleasant surprise to you.” And so Hie members of the deputation were dismissed with hopes revived. Public Expectation. It had been rumoured for some time previously that Ihe Economy Board, composed of heads of Departments, had indicated directions in which savings running into two nr three millions could he effected, but lb* 1 Government had made no statement on the subject, and yesterday's deputation had no knowledge of ils intentions. It may now take credit to Itself for having obtained a definite announcement from Ihe Prime Minister. which may hr regarded ns a prelude to far reaching economies and to some much needed reduction in the grievous burden of taxation. This, at anv rale, is Ihe public expectation, and there is no reason to suppose Mr Massey will not “make good.” It is unPkely. however. Hint any of the economies will become effective (ill Hie end of Mm year or Ihe reduced taxation till a later dale.